Autographic register



Filed NOV. 20, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l- INVENTOR f ATTORNEYS Jan. 12,1937- F. e. DIESBACH AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Nov. 20, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LMUW 5 innill f ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 12, 1937AUTOGRAPIHC REGISTER Fritz G. Diesbach, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor tograuth & Benninghofen, Hamilton, Ohio, a

Application November .20, 1934, Serial No. 753,931

3 Claims. (01. 282-21) This invention relates to improvements in autographic registers or manifolding machines by means of which acontinuous strip or strips of paper or continuous form stationery is fedfrom a supply compartment in the machine onto and across a writing tableor platen and delivered therefrom in predetermined lengths, whereuponsections of the strips may be severed or torn from the strips.

The strips are supplied in reel or packet form, the packet form beingherein disclosed. In the packet form a plural number of strips aredisposed in superposed arrangement and in zigzag folds, the line of foldbeing disposed in the spacing between forms printed upon the strips. Thestrips also contain filing holes likewise located in the spaces betweenthe forms. These holes are utilized in the passage of the superposedstrips through the machine for governing the withdrawal of the stripscausing the strips to issue in measured lengths, each lengthrepresenting the full length of a printed form. Moreover, the holesalign and register the printed forms of the superposed strips asdisposed on a writing table for entry and manifolding purposes, holdingthe same in properly registered position against disarrangement whileentries are being made.

In the type of mechanism to which the present invention is directed asan improvement, these apertures or filing holes are utilized foradministering a mechanical short feed advance of the strips to projectthe forward ends thereof sufiiciently from the delivery end of themachine for convenient grasp by the operator, whereby he can manuallycontinue the withdrawal until Withdrawal is again arrested by means ofthe pins or detents, as a part of the control mechanism, automaticallyengaging the next successive set of apertures when they are brought intoregistry with the pins.

It is the object of the present invention toprovide an improvedmechanical short feed advance means for the purposes above set forth; inother words, an improved device operating in relation to the aperturesin the strip for initiating the advance of the strip projecting the endthereof sufiiciently beyond the delivery end of the machine, whereby theoperator can grasp the projected ends of the strips and manuallycontinue strip withdrawal. It is a further object to provide that thisstarting mechanism will be automatically effective for controlling andlimiting the amount of manual withdrawal of the strip accurately andpositively stopping the strip in relation to the severing edge, so thatseverance takes place accurately between the forms.

Other objects and further advantages will be more fully apparent from adescription of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an autographic register, showingthe delivery end thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing the pinsin the apertures f the strips prior to starting feed.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44, Fig. 3, showing theforward position of the pin carrier or mechanical feed startingmechanism in dot and dash lines.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5, Fig. 3, showing the pincarrier or feed starting device in forward position and as the pins arebeing withdrawn from the apertures in the strips.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from Fig. 5, but showingthe pins returned and in position for interception of strip feed andillustrating the operation of manually pulling the strips from themachine.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken similar to Fig. 4, butshowing a modified form of pin carrier or feed starting mechanism.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-B, Fig. 7, showing the pinsin position prior to feed starting movement.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9--9, Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-i I Fig. 9, showing thestarting mechanism in forward position and as the pins are beingwithdrawn from the apertures.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken similar to Fig. '7, butshowing the forward feed position of the feed starting mechanism.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from Fig. 10, showingthe manual operation of withdrawing the strips from the machine with thepins returned and in position to engage the next set of apertures forinterception of strip feed.

In the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein a depressible pincarrying unit is pivoted at its lower end, permitting an oscillatingmovement of the upwardly extending pins somewhat longitudinally of theplaten or of the strips. The forward mechanical feed or startingmovement of the unit is accomplished by means of a lever, either fixedto or acting upon the unit for causing a forward swing of the pins. Thisforward swinging movement is against spring pressure. As the pins moveforwardly they are forced downwardly by spring means tending to extractthem from the apertures in the strips. After a forward movementsuflicient for projecting the ends of the strip beyond the machine,whereby they can be readily grasped for hand extraction, the pins arecompletely withdrawn and the return spring on the unit is effective forreturning the pins to their initial position except that they are stilldepressed due to the fact that upward movement is obstructed by thestrips.

As soon as the strips have been extracted manually an appropriatedistance the next apertures in the paper register with the pins and thepins move upwardly into the apertures blocking further longitudinalmovement of the strips and placing the pins in position for the nextstarting operation.

The movement of the pins is approximately rectilinear. This rectilinearmotion takes place about control lugs. The forward or starting feedmovement of the pins is across the top of the lugs. When past the lugsthe spring action causes downward movement in front of the lugs,clearing the same and permitting the return spring to swing the unitback to its normal position of alignment passing under the lugs. Thenfollows a delay while the paper is being withdrawn, but as soon as thesucceeding apertures align with the pins the fourth side of therectilinear motion is completed by upward movement of the pins past thelugs at the rear thereof to the starting position for feed movementacross the top of the lugs as above set forth.

The forces acting on the swinging pin carrier in its movement around thecontrol lug are as follows: First of all, a manual force is applied tothe unit swinging the pins forward and imparting starting feed to thestrips for projecting them as heretofore described; spring means forcingthe pins downwardly out of the apertures in the strips; a return springswinging the unit back to starting position across the underside of thelowermost strip; and springs constantly urging the unit upwardly forimmediate entrance of the pins into the apertures as aligned therewith.

The general type of mechanism to which the present construction isdirected as an improvement, in other words mechanism for starting thefeeding advance of the superposed strips or web to project the forwardend thereof beyond the delivery end of the machine, is shown anddescribed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,333,082, issued to A.Krauth, March 9, 1920, as well as in United States Letters Patent No.1,982,606, issued to Fritz G. Diesbach, November 27, 1934.

In the mentioned patents a swinging lever member is employed carryingdepressible pins engageable respectively with apertures in the stripswhen these apertures are disposed in registry therewith in the movementof the strips over the writing table. Also, the mentioned disclosuresshow means for controlling the strip withdrawal in measured lengthsgoverned or regulated by apertures spaced longitudinally of the strips.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings, the frame orcasing of the machine is generally indicated at l5 and includes a bottomI6, side walls I! and end walls l8. In view of the absence ofimprovement or difference at the rear end of the machine over thementioned application and patent, only the forward end of the machine isdisclosed and detailed in the present application; in other words, onlyso much of the machine as deals with the withdrawal control as opposedto the feeding of the strips from a pack or roll onto the platen orwriting table.

The casing includes a compartment 19 for a supply pack of paper or acontinuous form of stationery 20 composed of a plurality of superimposedstrips in zigzag fold or packed form. This compartment is defined bysubdividing the interior of the casing by means of a partition or wall2| rigidly secured to the bottom of the casing (see Figure 2).

The strips are fed as a unit from the supply pack to the rear end of themachine extending and engaging over a writing table or platen 22 andsupported on the side walls of the casing, This Writing table or platenmay be removable or hinged for access to the supply compartment. Sincethe removable nature of this platen is well understood in the art, nodisclosure is made of the details thereof in this instance.

The margin frame 23 is hingedly or removably secured to the casingincluding flanges 24 overhanging the side walls and flanges 25 overlyingthe writing table marginally thereof. The hinged or removable connectionof the margin frame to the casing is not disclosed herein.

The mechanical feed starting means heretofore referred to is in thenature of a pivoted plate unit, generally shown at 26, and locatedWithin the forward compartment of the machine. This unit is pivotallysupported in the side walls of the casing. The plate assembly includes amain vertical carrier or leaf member 27 directly pivotally mounted on across rod 28 secured to and be I tween the side walls of the casing.Cross pins 28 fixed in the rod maintain the carrier against lateraldisplacement on the rod. A vertically movable pin carrying plate 29 liesflat against the main carrier plate 21 and is slidably connected theretoby T-lugs 30 stamped or punched from the material of the main plate orleaf member and engaged respectively through T-slots 3| in the verticalslide plate. A screw 32 limits downward movement of the slide plate 29so that it cannot become dismounted by registration of the lugs andslots.

There are three of these T-lug and slot connections. Each of two of thelugs has a spring 32 connected thereto and to an ear or lip 33 punchedoutwardly from the slide plate. These springs normally yieldingly holdthe slide plate in an elevated position limited by the engagement of thelugs 30 with the base of the T-slots 3|. The upper edge of thevertically mounted slide plate has a pair of laterally extended ears 34,each ear carrying an upwardly extended pin 35, which pins it will beapparent are yieldably depressible by virtue of their mounting on thespring retained slide plate.

The pins are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the crosswisespacing of the apertures in the strips, whereby they engage therethroughwhen a set of apertures are brought into registry therewith. As stated,the pin carrying slide plate 29 being normally urged upwardly by thesprings causes the pins to maintain contact with the underside of thestrips or the lowermost strip where they are in position to snap throughthe apertures in the strips at once when brought into registrytherewith, and accordingly arrest or withhold strip advance,automatically controlling or regulating the strip withdrawal to definitemeasured lengths corresponding to the distance of the aperture spacinglongitudinally of the strips.

For reasons of clearance, hereinafter more apparent, the pins engagethrough elongated slots 36 in the forward end of the writing table orplaten and the forward margin flange 25 therefor projecting above thewriting table when engaged through the apertures of the strips. Thecarrier plate and pin carrying plate as an assembled unit are held to avertical position by means of a spring 3'! having its respective endsattached to a lug 38 secured on the carrier plate and to an ear 39punched outwardly from the side wall of the casing. The carrier atvertical position engages a stop on a cross bar 40 for limiting therearward swing of the carrier and slide plate as a unit as urged by thereturn spring to vertical alignment.

The feed advance or mechanical starting 'of the strips for projectingthe forward end of the strips beyond the delivery end of the casing inposition for a hand hold on the strips for continued withdrawal isaccomplished by rocking or swinging the pin carrier and slide plateassembly forwardly. This is done by means of an arm 4| fixed to thepivoted carrier plate and projected laterally from the machine casingthrough a slot 42 in the side wall thereof, the outer end 4| of the armbeing shaped to fit the finger and projected a sufficient distance foreasy access. The lug 38 to which the spring 3'! is secured is anintegral part of this arm.

As the unit is swung forwardly on its pivot by manual pressure on theoperating arm extended therefrom, the depressible slide plate carryingthe pins is urged downwardly against the pressure of the springs 32.This downward thrust is caused by the engagement of the upper edge 43 ofthe slide plate with a spring plate cam strip 44 secured medially to thecross bar and curved downwardly forwardly,

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, lugs 45 are extended inwardly from thecross bar at each side of the slide plate. These lugs are adapted toregister and cooperate with slots 46 in the respective side edges of theslide plate. The ears 34 on the slide plate which carry the pins rideacross and over these lugs 45 on the cross bar as the plate is urged ina downward direction by contact with the underside of the cam strip. Assoon as the ears 34 are past the lugs 45 of the cross bar (see Figure5), downward movement of the slide plate takes place for completeextraction of the pins from the filing holes in the strips as shown inFigure 5.

The pins moving downwardly a sufficient distance by virtue of the camcontact clear the lugs which causes complete movement of the pins fromthe apertures, thereby clearing the strips and permitting manualwithdrawal of an appropriate strip length.

The moment the pins are clear, that is, have been depressed below thestrips, the return spring 31 will pull the pin carrying unit rearwardlywith the pins in contact with the underside of the lowermost strip (seeFigure 6), in which position the pins are ready to move upwardly themoment this contact is no longer available as when the next succeedingapertures move over the pins. At this juncture the pins immediately moveupwardly and register with the apertures automatically stopping furthermanual withdrawal of the strip (see Figure 2). At this time, after acomplete rectilinear movement of the pins around the lugs 45, a fullform length has been withdrawn and the operator can tear the projectedportions of the strip along the tear-off edge 45 established by theforward edge of the margin plate.

It will be noted that the cross bar is out out at 46 intermediate itslength to provide clearance for the pin carrying ears of the slide plateand includes a downwardly turned flange 41 forming the verticalalignment stop for the pin carrying unit heretofore referred to.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 12inclusive, the same principle of operation is involved. That is to say,the pins move in a rectilinear path as acted upon by va- "riousmechanical means employed and hereinafter described.

In this form a supporting wall structure 50 is incorporated in theforward compartment of the machine. This wall structure consists of avertically disposed plate 5| secured to the floor of the casing andhaving its upper end attached to a cross rail 52 attached to therespective side walls or" the casing. The pin carrying unit ormechanical feed starting mechanism, as in the preceding form. consistsof two plate elements, one of which is the swinging carrier plate 2'!having its lower edge pivotally mounted on a pivot rod 53, and the otherof which is the vertically movable pin carrying plate 29 slidablymounted flat against the first plate by the same means employed in thefirst form; that is, the T-shaped lugs 30 and slots 3!. Also, the meansfor constantly urging this plate upwardly is in the form of the springs32 arranged as in the preceding form.

The pivot rod 53 is journalled within the casing in flanges 54 struck upfrom the base flange 55 of the support wall 50 heretofore described, thepivot plate being confined against lateral displacement between theseflanges.

In this form a spring 56 having one end anchored on a screw 51 on thesupport wall and the other end anchored on a tang 58 struck out from themetal of the vertically slidable pin carrying plate, is under tensionfor constantly urgthe pin carrying plate downwardly. This tang 58 isprojected through a vertical clearance slot 59 in the pivot plate.

A coil spring 60 under tension is anchored on and between the supportwall and the pivot plate respectively, constantly pulling the pivotplate rearwardly to normal, substantially vertical position, this beingthe spring for returning pins to normal position by passage under thelowermost side of the strips. The screw 6| anchoring this plate to theswinging pivoted plate also functions as a stop to limit verticaldownward moveroent of the slide plate.

An operating lever 52 pivoted on the support wall has one end 53projected externally of the casing through a slot in the side wallthereof, and the other end 64 projected between the support wall and theswinging plate. This lever is mounted on a pivot lug 65 and a coilspring 66 is employ-ed about the pivot for urging the lever constantlyto normal position away from the swinging plate assembly. The inner endof this lever is disposed in a slot 61 in the circular hub of a lockingfinger 68 pivotally mounted on a lug 69 of the support wall between thesupport wall and the swinging plate. The finger 68 projects throughvertical slots 70, 10 in the vertically movable plate and swinging platerespectively, and includes a notch H cooperating with the edge of thevertically movable plate at the upper end of the slot therein. The edge12 of the finger is inclined from a pointed end to this notch for a camaction hereinafter more apparent.

A control lug 45, heretofore described in the preceding form, is in thisinstance formed by striking out a portion of the support wall,projecting this portion forwardly and including a horizontal laterallyextended flange which is the lug 5 proper. This portion extends throughthe clearance slot 59 in the vertically movable pin carrying plate 29. Alug portion or ear 13 of the material of this plate 29 projects over thelug as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

In the operation of this modified form, the following movements takeplace. When the operator swings the operating lever 62 he rotates thefinger out of contact or looking engagement with the upper edge of theslot in. the swinging plate, permitting the swinging plate to be swungforwardly as the end of the lever engages the same. This movementcarries the pins forwardly and projects the strips a short distance fromthe machine, as has been described. Forward movement of the platecarries the extended ear or lug 73 of the vertically movable plate overthe control lug 65, the control lug functioning to prevent downwardmovement of the pin carrying plate under the action of the spring untilthe ear portion clears the forward end of the lug.

At this time (see Figure 10) the spring 56 is effective for depressingthe plate and extracting the pins from the apertures, a direct downwardmovement ensuing in front of the control lug.

Assuming a release of the operating lever as soon as this depressivemovement of the pins has occurred, the return spring 60 is theneffective for causing return movement of the pins, the ear portion ofthe pin carrier passing under the control lug until clear thereof. Thecontrol lug has its front and rear edge chamfered to prevent catching ofthe ear 13 on these edges as it moves in its rectilinear path.

As this rearward return movement of the pin carrier occurs, the swingingplate again engages the notch H in the locking finger 68 and theswinging plate is maintained at its normal, substantially verticalposition. However, as in the preceding form, although the pin carrier isclear of the control lug it cannot move upwardly under the action of itselevating springs .until the next succeeding apertures register with thepins, whereupon the fourth side of the rectilinear motion, as outlined,can occur.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an autographic register, a casing including a countersunk platenfor supporting a plurality of superposed strips of paper, the strips ofpaper including apertures therein spaced longitudinally thereof, aswinging plate pivotally mounted at the base of the casing at theforward end thereof, avertically slidably mounted pin carrying plate onsaid swinging plate, the pins thereof projected upwardly therefrom andadapted to register with apertures in the strips, a lever for swingingsaid swinging plate and pin carrier forwardly, springs urging said pincarrying plate upwardly at all times, a return spring urging saidswinging plate rearwardly at all times, a stationary control lug in thecasing, a portion of said vertically slidable plate movable in relationto said control lug for guiding vertical movement of the pin carryingplate, said portion adapted to move across the top of the control lug inforward feeding movement of the swinging plate and under such controllug in return movement of the swinging plate, and a pressure means inthe casing for urging the pin carrying plate downwardly as it is swungforwardly over the control lug, whereby said portion of the pin carryingplate operates in a rectilinear path about said control lug.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with a platenover which a plurality of superposed strips are drawn, the stripsprovided with registering apertures spaced longitudinally of the strips,a carrier having depressible pins adapted to engage through the stripapertures when in registry therewith, said carrier oscillatably mountedat the forward end of the platen to initiate a feeding movement to thestrips when the pins are engaged with apertures in the strips, a leverfor oscillating said carrier, a lock finger mounted in the casing andnormally maintaining the carrier in fixed position against forwardswing, said lever operating said lock finger for releasing the carrierin the first phase of forward swing of the carrier, and separate meansfor depressing the pins operable at the completion of the forward swingof said lever;

3. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with a platenover which a plurality of superposed strips are drawn, the'stripsprovided with registering apertures spaced longitudinally thereof, acarrier plate disposed at the forward end of the casing and having itslower end pivotally mounted, a second plate vertically slidably mountedon said first mentioned plate and including upwardly projected pinsadapted to engage through the strip apertures when in registrytherewith, spring means for urging the slidable plate upwardly at alltimes, stops limiting upward movement of the slidable plate, means forswinging said carrier plate and slidable plate forwardly for initiatinga feeding movement to the strips, means for depressing the pins at theforward limit of oscillatable movement, and means for returning theplates after feeding movement.

FRITZ G. DIESBACH.

